Background

The responsibilities for the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) are extensive. Together, the agencies are responsible for housing large numbers of low-income city residents, increasing the supply of and access to housing for residents of all income levels, maintaining the well-being of the city’s diverse neighborhoods, and overseeing residential and commercial development. Over the past decade, HCD has undergone a gradual shift from being managed as a consolidated agency to effectively becoming two separate agencies ‘HCD and HABC,’ which report to the same Commissioner/Executive Director. The Commissioner, who is a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet, serves a joint appointment as Executive Director of HABC. While HCD is a City agency, HABC is distinct from City government and is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor. HABC is funded exclusively by tenants’ rents and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), whereas HCD is funded through a combination of City, State and federal sources. HABC is the larger of the two agencies, with an FY2000 budget of $206 million and 1,653 budgeted staff positions (including 263 vacancies), compared to HCD’s FY2000 budget of $160 million and 580 budgeted positions (including 71 vacancies). HABC is the nation’s fourth largest public housing authority, behind New York, Chicago and Philadelphia.